David Warren - Author

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18/06/2026

One more chapter to write and the editing begins. Hoping ‘Out of Control!’ will be a useful tool and another voice.
So much more to reveal.

18/06/2026

“Authority is a strange thing. It is most beautiful when it serves and most dangerous when it becomes frightened”.

17/06/2026

BUILDING A SAFEGUARDING CULTURE

As long as it is remains tick boxes, forms and courses for a few kids workers then it will remain just that and will never be a culture and hence potentially unsafe - especially from the spiritual abuse which is sadly all too prevalent amongst some sections of the church.

When was the last time you heard a sermon, talk, key note conference session on ‘Safe Church’ that isn’t focused on safeguarding processes and children and vulnerable adults?

Safeguarding cultures go much deeper and need greater care to develop. Many are quick to establish weekly ‘offering’ talks and yet never do a ‘safe leaders’ talk (and if they did it would be done by the leader).

15/06/2026

A real situation faced by someone somewhere in the UK

A senior pastor acts inappropriately.

A need to complain to trustees.

Charity website gives three names.

Write to one: only just appointed and wont comment / answer as not attended a meeting yet and was not a trustee when incident happened.

Second one: no contact information

Third one: wife of the said pastor

Email address is church email address so not confidential to trustees.

Nowhere to go.

Typical.

This is unacceptable and leads to a serious lack of accountability.

15/06/2026

Where structures, any structures have bred:

Independency

Inflexibility

Inequality

Theme there are major problems if and when issues of coercion and control emerge.

More to come…..!

14/06/2026

From the new book out in November

OUT OF CONTROL!

“What coercion and control requires is a relational environment in which the cost of non-conformity becomes high enough that most people choose compliance over honesty, belonging over integrity, and silence over truth”.

By Elise Heerde and David Warren

13/06/2026

FORGIVENESS WEAPONISED

One of the most damaging aspects is how accountability is reframed as bitterness. When a survivor asks for responsibility, change, or safety, they are accused of being unforgiving, divisive, or stuck in the past. This tactic protects the person who caused harm while isolating the person who was hurt. Over time, victims learn that speaking honestly costs them community, while silence keeps them accepted.

E Heerde

12/06/2026

From the new book:
“The suffering and the scandal will continue for as long as the church continues to make safeguarding a department or a role rather than a matter of culture”.

09/06/2026

What should happen when a church leader contacts a third party and raises serious concerns about another individual, years after the events concerned, outside any formal complaint process, without any known findings, and without the person concerned being given an opportunity to respond?

I am not asking whether concerns should be raised. Genuine safeguarding concerns, misconduct concerns, and governance concerns should always be taken seriously.

I am asking what accountability exists when concerns are communicated informally, externally, and in ways that may affect reputation, relationships, or professional opportunities.

Too often our systems seem equipped to investigate formal misconduct, but less willing to examine conduct that sits in the grey areas between governance, pastoral authority, reputation, and influence.

Healthy leadership requires more than good intentions. It requires transparency, accountability, and a willingness to ask difficult questions about process as well as outcomes.

How should churches and Christian organisations handle situations like this?

09/06/2026

OUT OF CONTROL!

The issue for the forthcoming book is not that leaders make mistakes, fail and mess up. We all do that! The issue before us is why is it that good people start so well but end up as controlling, coercive leaders?

This is a complex issue involving team dynamics, personality issues, pressures to grow, and the pull of the stage and popularity.

The consequences if we get it wrong are deep and lasting and have sadly impacted many more people than most would like to imagine.

Watch this space.

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